Phone company Verizon to cut 8,000 jobs

NEW YORK: Phone company Verizon says it will cut 8,000 jobs from among employees and contractors before the end of the year to keep costs in line as the recession saps demand from businesses for telecommunications services.

Executives said the cuts will come from the wireline side of the business.

In recent years, New York-based Verizon Communications Inc has balanced layoffs in its wireline business with hiring in wireless, making for a net increase.

But Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl says that will not be the case this time. He says there will be large-scale hiring in wireless until the recession is over.

Verizon ended June with 235,000 employees. That doesn't include contractors.